stokebailey

If I buy my daughter the 12-25 Carte for SNCF online, any idea how long it takes to arrive?

Also, does the clock start ticking on the year when you purchase it, or with your first use? That part's probably hidden in the fine print somewhere en francais.

Christina

I have no personal experience, but the website says it generally takes 3 weeks to receive various SNCF fidelite cards, within France, of course.

When you buy the card, you have to fill out a box where you put in the date you want to begin the validity of it.

stokebailey

Thanks very much, Christina. I should go ahead and get it now.

kybourbon

I'm not familiar with this French card, but in Italy, cards like this are for residents of Italy only.

StCirq

The 12-25 Carte is not restricted to residents of France.

stokebailey

Thank you, Kyb and St. Cirq. The Academie where she'll be working recommended the cards for their foreign assistants.

StCirq

It's a very good deal, stokebailey, for anyone planning to do a fair amount of train travel. You probably already know this, but when I was reading the fine print I noticed that her employer will need to sign a form authorizing it for her.

stokebailey

Ha, no StCirq, I didn't read that far.

I guess she can get proper forms after she arrives and before she uses it. Thanks so much for reading the tedious parts!

Christina

I didn't read anything anywhere about why she would need an employer to fill something out for that 12-25 carte. I don't know what that would be for, it isn't related to a job, just age. 12 year olds wouldn't have an employer, anyway. THis is what it says in the official terms that I found in the Guide des Voyageurs:

<<3.1.5.a Particularités de la Carte 12-25 Bénéficiaires
Toute personne âgée de 12 ans au minimum et n’ayant pas atteint l’âge de 26 ans à la date de début de validité de la carte peut bénéficier d’une Carte 12-25. La carte doit être achetée, au plus tard, la veille du 26ème anniversaire du bénéficiaire.
Réduction et conditions d’application de la réduction
• Dans les trains à réservation obligatoire (TGV et INTERCITÉS à réservation obligatoire) : La carte permet de bénéficier d’une réduction allant de 25 % à 60 % (1), avec différents niveaux de prix intermédiaires.
La réduction de 25 % est garantie quels que soient le train et l’horaire. Les autres niveaux de réduction ne s’appliquent que dans la limite des places disponibles à ce tarif.
• Dans les trains à réservation facultative ou sans réservation, la carte permet de bénéficier d’une réduction de 25 ou 50 %. La réduction de 25 % s’applique pour tous les trajets commencés en période blanche du calendrier voyageurs. La réduction de 50 % s’applique pour tous les trajets commencés en période bleue du calendrier voyageurs.
Les conditions d’applications de la réduction, sont reprises au paragraphe 3.1.5. dans la partie : Application des réductions accordées aux porteurs de cartes.>>

There are lots of different special reductions or tarifs for various conditions and some are related to things you must officially have from the govt or your employer, but I don't see where that is one of those.

That card has its own website and this is the form where you fill out to get it, which is pretty simple and I don't see anything about employers

https://www.12-25-sncf.com/carte/com...te.aspx?s=true

StCirq

www.pratiques.fr/avantages-sncf-jeunes-htm.

Que faut-il faire?

...remplir le formulaire disponible dans les gares et le faire signer par le proviseur ou l'employeur ;

PalenQ

there are I believe black out periods so travel only in blue periods, not red or the Carte I think is not valid - minor point and perhaps those restrictions have been lifted since I last investigated this card when my son had one.

stokebailey

Thanks so much, Christina and StCirq.

After all, the form drop down menu doesn't give an option for mailing to Etats-Unis. Togo, yes. Irak, yes. Guam and Groenland, yes. USA no.

I'll just wait until she's sure of her address and have it mailed in late Sept. She can ask at her school when she's getting settled in.

I really appreciate your help.

stokebailey

Thanks, Pal!